EP3603204A1 - Accès à un réseau de données local par l'intermédiaire d'une connexion de données mobile - Google Patents

Accès à un réseau de données local par l'intermédiaire d'une connexion de données mobile

Info

Publication number
EP3603204A1
EP3603204A1 EP17713203.2A EP17713203A EP3603204A1 EP 3603204 A1 EP3603204 A1 EP 3603204A1 EP 17713203 A EP17713203 A EP 17713203A EP 3603204 A1 EP3603204 A1 EP 3603204A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
local
data
data network
network
packet
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP17713203.2A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Apostolis Salkintzis
Dimitrios Karampatsis
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Motorola Mobility LLC
Original Assignee
Motorola Mobility LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Motorola Mobility LLC filed Critical Motorola Mobility LLC
Publication of EP3603204A1 publication Critical patent/EP3603204A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
    • H04L67/50—Network services
    • H04L67/51—Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W48/00—Access restriction; Network selection; Access point selection
    • H04W48/08—Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery
    • H04W48/12—Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery using downlink control channel
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W36/00—Hand-off or reselection arrangements
    • H04W36/14—Reselecting a network or an air interface
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W48/00—Access restriction; Network selection; Access point selection
    • H04W48/02—Access restriction performed under specific conditions
    • H04W48/04—Access restriction performed under specific conditions based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W48/00—Access restriction; Network selection; Access point selection
    • H04W48/08—Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery
    • H04W48/14—Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery using user query or user detection
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W48/00—Access restriction; Network selection; Access point selection
    • H04W48/18—Selecting a network or a communication service
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W88/00—Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
    • H04W88/02—Terminal devices
    • H04W88/06—Terminal devices adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L47/00—Traffic control in data switching networks
    • H04L47/10—Flow control; Congestion control
    • H04L47/20—Traffic policing
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
    • H04W4/06—Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W40/00—Communication routing or communication path finding
    • H04W40/02—Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W84/00—Network topologies
    • H04W84/02—Hierarchically pre-organised networks, e.g. paging networks, cellular networks, WLAN [Wireless Local Area Network] or WLL [Wireless Local Loop]
    • H04W84/10—Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks

Definitions

  • the subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to wireless communications and more particularly relates to accessing a local data network via a mobile data connection.
  • E-UTRAN Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access
  • the data connection of the UE may be re-configured by the 5G core network so that it supports access to these local data services, in addition to supporting access to remote data services.
  • the local data services are services usually deployed in the vicinity of the UE, e.g. in a shopping mall, enterprise, etc, whereas remote data services are services usually deployed in the cloud and thus at far distance from the UE.
  • a User Plane Function (UPF) accessing the local data network routes traffic either upstream towards the core network and then to the remote data service, or to the local data network.
  • the forwarding decisions are normally taken by routing rules configured in the UPF. In doing so, the UPF provides a functionality referred to as an "Uplink Classifier (UL CL)" functionality.
  • UL CL Uplink Classifier
  • a method for accessing a local data network via a mobile data connection includes receiving, at a remote unit, a downlink data packet from a first data connection over a mobile communication network, the first data connection providing access to a remote data network. The method includes determining from the downlink data packet whether the first data connection provides access to a local data network in addition to the remote data network. The method also includes accessing one or more services in the local data network in response to determining that the first data connection provides access to the local data network.
  • Another method for accessing a local data network via a mobile data connection includes establishing a first data connection with a remote unit over a first network interface.
  • the first data connection providing the remote unit access to a remote data network.
  • the method includes communicating with a session management function ("SMF") over a second network interface and determining whether to configure the first data connection to provide access to a local data network in addition to the remote data network based on information received from the SMF.
  • the method includes activating a third network interface that communicates with a local data network.
  • the method includes transmitting a downlink data packet to the remote unit over the first data connection, the downlink data packet including an indicator that the first data connection provides access to a local data network, in response to activating the third network interface, and providing the remote unit with access one or more services via the local data network using the third network interface.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a wireless communication system for accessing a local data network via a mobile data connection;
  • Figure 2A illustrates one embodiment of a network architecture for accessing a local data network via a mobile data connection
  • Figure 2B illustrates another embodiment of a network architecture for accessing a local data network via a mobile data connection
  • Figure 3A illustrates one embodiment of a procedure for accessing a local data network via a mobile data connection
  • Figure 3B illustrates another embodiment of a procedure for accessing a local data network via a mobile data connection
  • Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of uplink packet flow for accessing a local data network via a mobile data connection
  • Figure 5 A is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of an apparatus for accessing a local data network via a mobile data connection
  • Figure 5B is a schematic block diagram illustrating another embodiment of an apparatus for accessing a local data network via a mobile data connection
  • Figure 6 is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method for accessing a local data network via a mobile data connection.
  • Figure 7 is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating another embodiment of a method for accessing a local data network via a mobile data connection.
  • embodiments may be embodied as a system, apparatus, method, or program product. Accordingly, embodiments may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects.
  • the disclosed embodiments may be implemented as a hardware circuit comprising custom very-large-scale integration ("VLSI") circuits or gate arrays, off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or other discrete components.
  • VLSI very-large-scale integration
  • the disclosed embodiments may also be implemented in programmable hardware devices such as field programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic, programmable logic devices, or the like.
  • the disclosed embodiments may include one or more physical or logical blocks of executable code which may, for instance, be organized as an object, procedure, or function.
  • embodiments may take the form of a program product embodied in one or more computer readable storage devices storing machine readable code, computer readable code, and/or program code, referred hereafter as code.
  • the storage devices may be tangible, non- transitory, and/or non-transmission.
  • the storage devices may not embody signals. In a certain embodiment, the storage devices only employ signals for accessing code.
  • the computer readable medium may be a computer readable storage medium.
  • the computer readable storage medium may be a storage device storing the code.
  • the storage device may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, holographic, micromechanical, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.
  • a storage device More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the storage device would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random-access memory (“RAM”), a read-only memory (“ROM”), an erasable programmable read-only memory (“EPROM” or Flash memory), a portable compact disc readonly memory (“CD-ROM”), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.
  • a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
  • the code may also be stored in a storage device that can direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the storage device produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function/act specified in the schematic flowchart diagrams and/or schematic block diagrams.
  • the code may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other devices to produce a computer implemented process such that the code which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the schematic flowchart diagrams and/or schematic block diagram.
  • each block in the schematic flowchart diagrams and/or schematic block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which includes one or more executable instructions of the code for implementing the specified logical function(s).
  • a UE receives downlink packets having an indicator that indicates when an established data connection becomes capable to provide access to a local data network and, in response, enables access to the local data network via the said data connection.
  • the UE determines if a data connection over a mobile communication network can provide connectivity to a local data network, in addition to connectivity to a remote data network, by examining the indicator.
  • the indicator is a flag in the downlink packet header.
  • the UE also determines a charging rate applied for the traffic to the local data network that is accessible via its data connection over the mobile communication network.
  • a downlink data packet may also include a local charging rate parameter.
  • the UE marks the traffic sent to its data connection over the mobile data network to indicate which traffic should be routed to the local data network and which traffic should be routed to the remote data network.
  • the UE configures a virtual network interface that provides access to the local data network via the first data connection. All data packets sent to this virtual network interface are transmitted via the first data connection but are also marked with a local access request flag. This local access request flag is interpreted by the mobile network as a request from UE to route the data packet to the local data network.
  • this local access request flag is particularly useful for routing multicast/broadcast data packets because the destination address in these packets cannot indicate if they should be routed to the local data network or upstream to a remote data network.
  • the local access request flag is useful when the address space of the local data network overlaps with the address space of the remote data network. In this case, routing cannot be solely based on the destination address.
  • the local access request flag is useful for routing unicast DNS queries to a DNS server in the local data network when the UE is not aware of the address of the DNS server in the local data network. In this case, the Uplink Classifier receiving the DNS query with the local access request flag changes the destination address in the DNS query and forwards it to the local data network to reach the DNS server in the local data network.
  • Figure 1 a wireless communication system 100 for accessing a local data network via a mobile data connection, according to embodiments of the disclosure.
  • the wireless communication system 100 includes remote units 105, cellular base units 1 10, and cellular communication links 1 15. Even though a specific number of remote units 105, cellular base units 110, and cellular communication links 1 15 are depicted in Figure 1 , one of skill in the art will recognize that any number of remote units 105, cellular base units 1 10, and cellular communication links 1 15 may be included in the wireless communication system 100.
  • the wireless communication system 100 is compliant with the 5G system specified in the 3GPP specifications. More generally, however, the wireless communication system 100 may implement some other open or proprietary communication network, for example, LTE or WiMAX, among other networks.
  • LTE Long Term Evolution
  • WiMAX Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access
  • the remote units 105 may include computing devices, such as desktop computers, laptop computers, personal digital assistants ("PDAs"), tablet computers, smart phones, smart televisions (e.g., televisions connected to the Internet), smart appliances (e.g. , appliances connected to the Internet), set-top boxes, game consoles, security systems (including security cameras), vehicle on-board computers, network devices (e.g., routers, switches, modems), or the like.
  • the remote units 105 include wearable devices, such as smart watches, fitness bands, optical head-mounted displays, or the like.
  • the remote units 105 may be referred to as subscriber units, mobiles, mobile stations, users, terminals, mobile terminals, fixed terminals, subscriber stations, UE, user terminals, a device, or by other terminology used in the art.
  • the remote units 105 may communicate directly with one or more of the cellular base units 110 via uplink (“UL") and downlink (“DL”) communication signals.
  • UL and DL communication signals may be carried over the cellular communication links 115.
  • the remote units 105 communicate with a remote data network 125 via a data connection with the mobile core network 120.
  • a remote unit 105 may establish a data connection (also known as "PDU session") with the remote data network 125 via the mobile core network 120 and via a cellular base unit 110.
  • a user plane function (“UPF") 130 in the mobile core network 120 then relays traffic between the remote unit 105 and the remote data network 125 over the data connection.
  • one or more UPFs 130 may be located outside the mobile core network 120.
  • the UPFs 130 may have access to local data networks.
  • the UPF 130 may provide the remote unit 105 with access to local data services, such as print services, media/streaming services, HTTP services, file services, and the like.
  • the cellular base units 110 may be distributed over a geographic region.
  • a cellular base unit 110 may also be referred to as an access terminal, a base, a base station, a Node-B, an eNB, a gNB, a Home Node-B, a relay node, a device, or by any other terminology used in the art.
  • the cellular base units 110 are generally part of a radio access network ("RAN") that may include one or more controllers communicably coupled to one or more corresponding cellular base units 110. These and other elements of radio access network are not illustrated but are well known generally by those having ordinary skill in the art.
  • the cellular base units 110 connect to the mobile core network 120 via the RAN.
  • the cellular base units 110 may serve a number of remote units 105 within a serving area, for example, a cell or a cell sector via a wireless communication link.
  • the cellular base units 110 may communicate directly with one or more of the remote units 105 via communication signals.
  • the cellular base units 110 transmit downlink ("DL") communication signals to serve the remote units 105 in the time, frequency, and/or spatial domain.
  • the DL communication signals may be carried over the cellular communication links 115.
  • the cellular communication links 115 may be any suitable carrier in licensed or unlicensed radio spectrum.
  • the cellular communication links 115 facilitate communication between one or more of the remote units 105 and/or one or more of the cellular base units 110.
  • the mobile core network 120 is a 5G core (“5GC”) or the evolved packet core (“EPC”), which may be coupled to other networks, like the Internet and private data networks, among other packet data networks.
  • Each mobile core network 120 belongs to a single public land mobile network (“PLMN").
  • PLMN public land mobile network
  • the mobile core network 120 includes a UPF 130 and a session management function ("SMF") 140.
  • UPF 130 provides user plane (e.g. , data) services to the remote units 105.
  • a data connection between the remote unit 105 and a data network is managed by a UPF 130.
  • the SMF 140 manages the data sessions of the remote units 105, such as the PDU session discussed above.
  • the SMF 140 may add or modify the data path of a data connection used by a remote unit 105. For example, the SMF 140 may insert a new UPF 130 into the data path and/or configure a UPF 130 to provide access to the local data network 135.
  • a UPF 130 may indicate availability of local data services (e.g. , in the local data network 135) to a remote unit 105 already having a data connection to the remote data network 125.
  • the UPF 130 may flag one or more downlink packets to indicate the availability of local data services.
  • An interested remote unit 105 may discover one or more local data services and flag uplink packets to be routed via the local data network 135. This flag in the uplink packet is interpreted by the mobile network (e.g. , UPF 130) as a request from the remote unit 105 to route the data packet to the local data network 135.
  • Figure 2A-2B depict network architectures used for accessing a local data network via a mobile data connection, according to embodiments of the disclosure.
  • Figure 2A depicts a network architecture 200 at a first moment in time.
  • the network architecture 200 includes a UE 205, a RAN 210, a core network 215, a first UPF 220, and a remote data network 125.
  • the UE 205 is a 5G UE and may be one embodiment of the remote unit 105 discussed above
  • the core network 215 is a 5G core network and may be one embodiment of the mobile core network 120 discussed above
  • the first UPF 220 may be one embodiment of the UPF 130 discussed above.
  • the remote data network may be substantially described above with reference to Figure 1 and the RAN 210 may include a cellular base unit 1 10.
  • the RAN 210 is a 3 GPP RAN (e.g., E-UTRAN or 5G-RAN).
  • the RAN 201 may be a non-3GPP RAN (e.g., a Wi-Fi network).
  • FIG. 2A shows the UE 205 having established a data connection 221 which supports access to the remote data network 125 and to services available in the remote data network 125.
  • the remote data network 125 is a private enterprise network while, in other embodiments, the remote data network 125 represents the entire Internet.
  • the data connection 221 is a PDU session.
  • the data path of the data connection 221 is composed of three concatenated interfaces: a radio interface (Uu) between the UE and RAN, a backhaul interface (N3) between RAN and the first UPF 220 in the 5G core network, and an N6 interface between the first UPF 220 and the remote data network 125.
  • UPF radio interface
  • N3 backhaul interface
  • N6 an N6 interface
  • FIG. 2B depicts a network architecture 225 used for accessing a local data network via a mobile data connection.
  • the network architecture 225 may be an embodiment of the network architecture 200 at another moment in time (e.g., at a future time after the UE 205 moves to a different location).
  • the network architecture 225 includes the elements of the network architecture 200 and further includes a second UPF 230 in the data path of the data connection 221.
  • the second UPF 230 may be one embodiment of the UPF 130 discussed above.
  • the first UPF 220 and the second UPF 230 communicate using an N9 interface.
  • the data path of the data connection 221 may be re-configured by the core network 215 (e.g. , by a SMF in the core network 215) to support access to the local data network 135, as shown in Figure 2B.
  • the SMF in the core network 215 may insert the second UPF 230 into the data path of the data connection 221.
  • the second UPF 230 supports access to a local data network 135 via a second instance of the N6 interface.
  • second UPF 230 the main role of second UPF 230 is to receive data traffic from the UE 205 and to determine how to route this traffic.
  • the second UPF 230 will either forward the traffic to an upstream UPF (e.g. , the first UPF 220) for reaching the remote data network 125, or forward the traffic to the local data network 135.
  • an upstream UPF e.g. , the first UPF 220
  • the second UPF 230 marks every downlink packet sent to the UE 205 with a "local access available" flag, a new flag indicating the availability of local services.
  • the local data network 135 may enable a user of the UE 205 to print documents to a local print server and/or to consume audio/video content from a local media server.
  • the UE 205 starts receiving packets via the data connection 221 that contain the local access available flag, the UE 205 determines that the data connection 221 provides access to a local data network 135 in addition to access the remote data network 125.
  • the UE 205 may use the DHCP protocol to request IP configuration data (e.g. an IP address, network mask, domain name, DNS server address, etc.) for accessing the local data network.
  • IP configuration data e.g. an IP address, network mask, domain name, DNS server address, etc.
  • the UE 205 may discover the local services and enable access to the local data network 135 via the data connection 221.
  • the local access available flag indicates that access to a local data network is available, but does not indicate which services are available to minimize packet overhead. This way, an interested UE can then discover the locally available services.
  • the local access available flag (also referred to herein as a "local data available" flag) may be a one-bit flag in the header of the downlink packet.
  • the second UPF 230 adds the local access available flag to every X downlink packets.
  • the value of X is 1 such that each downlink packet contains the local access available flag. In other embodiments, the value of X is greater than 1 such that not every packet includes the local access available flag.
  • the network operator may set the value for X (e.g. , define how often to include the local access available flag).
  • the second UPF 230 may mark one or more downlink packets sent to UE 205 with a "local charging rate" parameter indicating the charging rate applied to data traffic sent by the UE 205 and routed to the local data network 135 via the data connection 221.
  • this parameter may be two bits encoded as: '00' for free, '01 ' for 25% charging rate, ' 10' for 50% charging rate and ⁇ for 75% charging rate with respect to the charging rate applied to the traffic towards the remote data network 125 over the data connection 221.
  • the charging rate may be specific to the UE 205.
  • the second UPF 230 marks every downlink packet with the local charging rate parameter. In other embodiments, the second UPF 230 only marks some of the downlink packets with the local charging rate parameter to minimize packet overhead. Whenever the local charging rate changes, the second UPF 230 updates accordingly the charging rate parameter in the downlink packets.
  • the second UPF 230 indicates the availability of a local data network by including the local charging rate parameter in the downlink data packets.
  • the local access available flag may be omitted as the presence (or absence) of the local charging rate parameter indicates to the UE 205 also whether access to a local data network is available.
  • the second UPF 230 may add the local charging rate parameter to every X downlink packets whenever access the local data network 135 is available, where a network operator sets the value for X.
  • the UE 205 behaves as it normally does when configuring a new network interface.
  • the UE 205 broadcasts (via the data connection 221) a dynamic host configuration protocol ("DHCP") request to discover a DHCP server in the local data network 135 and then requests from the DHCP server to provide IP configuration data, including an IP address, network mask, domain name, DNS server address, etc.
  • DHCP dynamic host configuration protocol
  • the UE 205 is configured with two IP addresses on the same data connection 221 : One IP address assigned when the data connection 221 was established and another IP address assigned with DHCP after receiving the local access available flag.
  • the first IP address is used for communication with the remote data network 125 and the latter IP address is used for communication with the local data network 135.
  • the above DHCP request broadcast by the UE 205 may include the local access request flag in order to be routed to the local data network 135.
  • the UE 205 may attempt to discover the locally offered services (e.g. printing service, media service, streaming services, etc.) and notify its applications and the user of the discovered services.
  • the UE 205 may notify its applications which may then start content retrieval (e.g. start downloading a firmware update) which would be too costly over the remote data network 125.
  • the UE 205 may use the Web Proxy Auto- Discovery ("WPAD”) protocol to discover and use an HTTP proxy available in the local data network, thereby improving subsequent web browsing experience as requests for content locally cached in the HTTP proxy are able to be served very quickly.
  • WPAD Web Proxy Auto- Discovery
  • the UE 205 initiates service discovery by using the Simple Service Discovery Protocol ("SSDP") or the multicast DNS ("mDNS”) protocols to discover some services available in the local data network.
  • SSDP Simple Service Discovery Protocol
  • mDNS multicast DNS
  • the UE 205 may initiate discovery of print servers and/or media servers in the local data network by sending a SSDP search request or an mDNS query.
  • the UE 205 initiates the WPAD protocol to discover and use an HTTP proxy in the local data network. After discovering an HTTP proxy in the local data network, the UE 205 may configure its networking layer to steer all HTTP traffic of the UE 205 to go through the HTTP proxy server in the local data network.
  • the UE 205 may indicate to the network (e.g. , the second UPF 230) which uplink packets should be routed to the local data network. This is mainly required when the destination address of uplink packets cannot be used to determine if the packets should be routed to the local data network or to the remote data network, for example using Uplink Classifier, as discussed above.
  • the UE 205 marks uplink packets intended for the local data network 135 with a "local access request" flag, a new flag indicating packet routing to the UPF.
  • the second UPF 230 routes packets marked with the local access request flag to the local data network 135, unless network policy in the second UPF 230 prevents such routing.
  • the UE 205 receives IP configuration data from the local data network 135 (e.g., in response to a DHCP request), then the UE 205 becomes aware of the address space of the local data network 135. For example, the UE 205 may learn that all IP addresses in the local data network 135 are "192.168.x.y". Accordingly, the transmitted packets for the local data network 135 will have a destination address "192.168.x.y" and can be used by the second UPF 230 for routing without the need of the local access request flag. However, the local access request flag may still be used in case of multicast and/or broadcast traffic or in situations of overlapping address spaces of the remote data network 125 and the local data network 135.
  • the UE 205 configures a new "virtual" network interface that provides access to the local data network 135 via the data connection 221.
  • all data packets sent to this virtual network interface are transmitted via the data connection 221 but are also marked with the local access request flag.
  • the UE 205 is to mark all service discovery requests (e.g. SSDP, mDNS requests) and all DHCP requests with the local access request flag to ensure routing to the local data network 135.
  • the UE 205 may mark local service requests (e.g. print requests, streaming requests) with the local access request flag when these requests cannot be routed based on the destination address, e.g., when the address space of the remote and local data networks overlap.
  • the local access request flag (also referred to herein as a "local data request" flag) is a one -bit flag included in the packet header of each uplink packet.
  • a value of 1 may indicate that the uplink packet is to be routed to the local data network 135, while a value of 0 may indicate that the uplink packet is to be routed to the first UPF 220 and the remote data network 125.
  • each data packet exchanged over the Uu, N3 and N9 interfaces is prefixed by a specific header which contains metadata about the packet.
  • the local access available flag, the local access request flag, and the local charging rate parameter may be included as additional metadata in this header.
  • FIG. 3A depicts a first procedure 300 for accessing a local data network via a mobile data connection, according to embodiments of the disclosure.
  • the first procedure 300 involves the UE 205, first UPF 220, second UPF 230, remote data network 125, and the local data network 135.
  • the local data network 135 includes a print server 301 that provides local printing services.
  • the first procedure 300 begins sometime after a first data connection 303 is established between the UE 205 and the remote data network 125 (e.g. , over a mobile communication network).
  • the first data connection 303 may be one embodiment of the data connection 221 discussed above. Initially, the path of the data connection passes through the first UPF 220 but does not pass through the second UPF 230.
  • the path of the first data connection 303 is modified (e.g. , in response to the UE 205 moving to a new area) and a new UPF (e.g. , the second UPF 230) is added to the data path (see block 305).
  • a new UPF e.g. , the second UPF 230
  • downlink traffic from the remote data network 125 first passes to the first UPF 220, then passes to the second UPF 230, and is finally passed to the UE 205 via the RAN (not shown in Figure 3 A). Because the UPFs are transparent to the UE 205, the UE 205 is unaware of the path modification to the first data connection 303.
  • the second UPF 230 begins to mark the DL data packets with a "local data available" flag and transmits the marked DL data packets to the UE 205 (see block 310). For example, the second UPF 230 may set a flag bit in the packet headers of the downlink packets.
  • the local data available flag indicates to the UE 205 that access to a local data network is available. However, the local data available flag does not indicate which services are available in the local data network.
  • the UE 205 may attempt to discover the local services and/or may attempt to request IP configuration data (e.g. via DHCP) for the local data network.
  • the UE 205 may be configured with a policy to utilize local services whenever available.
  • the UE 205 discovers the available local services by sending out one or more mDNS query packets marked with a "local data request" flag (see block 315).
  • the mDNS query packets allow the UE 205 to discover which services are available via the local data network 135.
  • the local data request flag indicates to the second UPF 230 that the mDNS query packets should be sent to the local data network 135, rather than to the first UPF 220 and remote data network 125.
  • the second UPF 230 Upon receiving the one or more mDNS query packets marked with a "local data request" flag, the second UPF 230 forwards the packets to the local data network 135 (see block 320). When forwarding uplink packets to the local data network 135, the second UPF 230 modifies the packet header (e.g., using network address and port translation ("NAPT")) to allow for routing in the local data network 135. Because the original source IP address may not be routable in the local data network 135, the second UPF 230 changes the source IP address to its own IP address and the source port number to its own source port. The second UPF 230 stores the IP address/port number mappings.
  • NAPT network address and port translation
  • One or more devices in the local data network 135 may respond to the mDNS query (see block 325).
  • the print server 301 sends a DNS response to the mDNS query.
  • the response may be a unicast DNS response.
  • the second UPF 230 receives the DNS response(s) from the local data network 135 and forwards the response(s) to the UE 205 (see block 330).
  • the second UPF 230 again performs NAPT to modify the destination IP address and destination port number back to the original IP address/port number used by the UE 205.
  • the UE 205 Upon receiving the DNS response(s), the UE 205 determines services available via the local data network 135. Here, the UE 205 identifies at least the locally available print services provided by the local print server 301 from the DNS response (see block 335). Additionally, the UE 205 makes the discovered services (including print services of the discovered print server 301) available to its applications. When an application on the UE requests to print a document to the print server 301 (see block 340), the UE 205 transmits a sequence of packets (e.g. , corresponding to a print job) to the IP address of the print server 301. These uplink packets are also marked with the local data request flag to ensure that the second UPF 230 routes the print job to the local data network 135.
  • a sequence of packets e.g. , corresponding to a print job
  • the second UPF 230 may route these packets to the first UPF 220 and remote data network 125, especially when there is an overlap between the address space of the remote data network and the address space of the local access network.
  • FIG. 3B depicts a second procedure 355 for accessing a local data network via a mobile data connection, according to embodiments of the disclosure.
  • the second procedure 355 involves the UE 205, first UPF 220, second UPF 230, remote data network 125, and the local data network 135.
  • the local data network 135 includes a HTTP proxy 307 that provides local HTTP proxy services.
  • the second procedure 355 begins sometime after the first data connection 303 is established between the UE 205 and the remote data network 125 (e.g. , over a mobile communication network). Initially, the path of the first data connection 303 passes through the first UPF 220, but does not pass through the second UPF 230.
  • the path of the first data connection 303 is modified (e.g. , in response to the UE 205 moving to a new area) and a new UPF (e.g. , the second UPF 230) is added to the data path (see block 305).
  • a new UPF e.g. , the second UPF 230
  • the second UPF 230 begins to mark the DL data packets with a "local data available" flag, indicating to the UE 205 that access to a local data network is available (see block 360).
  • the second UPF 230 includes a "local charging rate" parameter (see block 360).
  • the second UPF 230 sends the local charging rate parameter in the first N number of DL packets.
  • N is a predetermined amount, for example ten, and may be configured by a network operator.
  • the local charging rate parameter indicates to the UE 205 that access to the local data network 135 is provided for free.
  • the UE 205 discovers the available local services by sending out one or more unicast DNS query packets marked with a "local data request" flag (see block 365).
  • the local data request flag indicates to the second UPF 230 that the DNS query packets should be sent to the local data network 135, rather than to the first UPF 220 and remote data network 125.
  • the UE 205 may send DNS query packets according to the WPAD protocol.
  • the second UPF 230 Upon receiving the one or more unicast DNS query packets marked with a "local data request" flag, the second UPF 230 forwards these packets to the local data network 135 (see block 320). When forwarding uplink packets to the local data network 135, the second UPF 230 modifies the packet header using NAPT. Here, the second UPF 230 may change the destination IP address to include the IP address of the DNS server (not shown in Figure 3B) in the local data network 135, instead of the IP address of the DNS server in the remote data network. Additionally, the second UPF 230 changes the source IP address and the source port number so that the response is routed back to the second UPF 230.
  • the DNS server in the local data network 135 sends a DNS response to the second
  • the second UPF 230 forwards the response to the UE 205 (see block 330).
  • the second UPF 230 again performs NAPT to modify the destination IP address and destination port number back to the original IP address/port number used by the UE 205 in its DNS request.
  • the UE 205 discovers the HTTP proxy 307 from the DNS response (see block 370).
  • the DNS response from the local DNS server includes the URL of a WPAD file, the WPAD file including an auto-configuration script.
  • the UE 205 retrieves this WPAD file by initiating an HTTP GET operation and configures its HTTP stack to use the discovered HTTP proxy 307 in the local data network 135 based on the contents of the WPAD file (see block 375).
  • FIG. 4 depicts a UE model for supporting data traffic to the remote data network and to the local data network via the same data connection.
  • the UE 400 may be one embodiment of the remote unit 105 and/or UE 205 discussed above.
  • the UE 400 includes one or more UE applications 405 installed thereon which generate uplink data 407.
  • the UE applications pass the uplink data 407 to the networking stack 410 which generates uplink packets 413.
  • the uplink packets 413 include headers and payloads.
  • the networking stack 410 determines a network interface for each uplink packet 413. Those uplink packets 413 that should reach the local data network 135 (e.g. , because they are for services in the local data network) are sent to the virtual network interface 415.
  • each uplink packet is marked with a "local access request" flag (also referred to as a local data request) forming marked uplink packets 417. Those uplink packets 413 not destined for the local data network 135 are not marked.
  • Both the marked and unmarked uplink packets 413 are then sent to the first data connection 420 for transmission over the mobile network (e.g. , transmitted to the RAN).
  • the first data connection 420 may be substantially similar to the data connection 221 and first data connection 303 discussed above.
  • this IP data configuration is used to configure the virtual network interface 415.
  • the virtual interface 415 may be assigned the IP address received from the DHCP server in the local data network.
  • Figure 5 A depicts one embodiment of an apparatus 500 that may be used for accessing a local data network via a mobile data connection, according to embodiments of the disclosure.
  • the apparatus 500 includes one embodiment of the remote unit 105.
  • the remote unit 105 may include a processor 505, a memory 510, an input device 515, a display 520, a transceiver 525 for communicating over an access network (e.g., a 3GPP RAN or a WLAN).
  • the input device 515 and the display 520 are combined into a single device, such as a touchscreen.
  • the remote unit 105 may not include any input device 515 and/or display 520.
  • the processor 505 may include any known controller capable of executing computer-readable instructions and/or capable of performing logical operations.
  • the processor 505 may be a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a central processing unit (“CPU"), a graphics processing unit (“GPU”), an auxiliary processing unit, a field programmable gate array (“FPGA”), or similar programmable controller.
  • the processor 505 executes instructions stored in the memory 510 to perform the methods and routines described herein.
  • the processor 505 is communicatively coupled to the memory 510, the input device 515, the display 520, and the transceiver 525.
  • the processor 505 receives a downlink data packet from a first data connection (e.g., the data connection 221 , the first data connection 303, and/or the first data connection 420) over the mobile communication network.
  • the first data connection provides the remote unit 105 with access to a remote data network 125.
  • the processor 505 determines, from the downlink data packet, whether the first data connection provides access to a local data network 135 in addition to the remote data network 125.
  • the processor 505 accesses one or more services via the local data network 135.
  • the processor 505 examines a flag in a header of the downlink data packet (e.g. , a "local access availability" flag) to determine whether the first data connection provides access to a local data network 135.
  • the flag e.g., local access availability flag
  • the flag indicates whether the first data connection provides access to the local data network 135. For example, when set (e.g., to a binary "1"), the flag indicates that a local data network 135 is available to access via the first data connection. If the flag is not set, the processor 505 determines that no local data network 135 is available to access via the first data connection.
  • the downlink data packet further includes a charging rate parameter.
  • the charging rate parameter may be inserted into the packet header.
  • the charging rate parameter indicates a charging rate applied to data traffic sent by the remote unit 105 to the local data network 135 via the first data connection.
  • the charging rate may be specific to the remote unit 105. For example, devices of a certain model, manufacture, or associated with a certain subscription may be charged at a different rate than others.
  • the processor 505 may inform one or more applications installed at the remote unit 105 that a new network interface if available (e.g. the virtual network interface 415) which supports data communication free of charge or with a reduced charging rate.
  • the processor 505 informs the application(s) only if the charging rate applied to data traffic sent by the remote unit 105 to the local data network 135 via the first data connection is different than a default charging rate for data traffic sent by the remote unit 105 via the first data connection.
  • the processor 505 determines whether a charging rate parameter is present in the downlink data packet (e.g., in a packet header of the downlink data packet) to determine whether the first data connection provides access to the local data network 135.
  • the presence of the charging rate parameter serves as an indication that the first data connection provides access to both the remote data network 125 and a local data network 135.
  • the processor 505 determines that no local data network 135 is available to access via the first data connection whenever the downlink data packet does not include a charging rate parameter.
  • the processor 505 accesses the one or more services via the local data network 135 by configuring a virtual network interface 530 for accessing the local data network 135 via the first data connection.
  • the virtual network interface 530 may be one embodiment of the virtual network interface 415 discussed above. Configuration of the virtual network interface 530 may be performed by using the DHCP protocol, after receiving the local data available flag, to request and receive IP configuration data including an IP address, network mask, domain name, address of DNS servers, etc.
  • the processor 505 may mark each uplink packet sent to the virtual network interface 415 with a flag (e.g. , a "local access request" flag).
  • the flag requests routing of the uplink packet to the local data network 135.
  • the processor 505 accesses the one or more services via the local data network 135 by sending a service discovery request to the local data network 135.
  • the processor 505 may send a DNS query packet, including an mDNS query packet.
  • the processor 505 may send a Simple Service Discovery Protocol ("SSDP") packet.
  • the processor 505 flags the service discovery request (e.g. , marks the request with a local access request flag), to request that the service discovery request (e.g. , the DNS query or SSDP packet) be routed to the local data network 135.
  • SSDP Simple Service Discovery Protocol
  • accessing one or more services via the local data network 135 includes the processor 505 discovering a HTTP proxy 307 in the local data network 135. In such embodiments, the processor 505 sends HTTP traffic to the discovered HTTP proxy 307 in the local data network 135. In other embodiments, accessing one or more services via the local data network 135 includes the processor 505 requesting IP configuration data by using the DHCP protocol and using the received IP configuration data to configure a new network interface (e.g. the virtual network interface 530) that supports data communication with the local data network.
  • a new network interface e.g. the virtual network interface 530
  • the processor 505 receives an uplink packet (e.g. , from an application installed on the remote unit 105) and determines whether the uplink packet is to be transmitted to the local data network 135.
  • the uplink packet may belong to a local service provided by the local data network 135.
  • the uplink packet may not belong to a local service, but instead may simply need to be routed via the local data network 135 (e.g. , to reduce cost).
  • the processor 505 determines that the uplink packet should reach the local data network 135, then the processor 505 marks the uplink packet with a flag, such as a local access request flag.
  • the flag requests routing of the uplink packet to the local data network 135.
  • the processor 505 transmits it via the first data connection.
  • the UPF routes the flagged packet to the local data network 135.
  • the memory 510 in one embodiment, is a computer readable storage medium.
  • the memory 510 includes volatile computer storage media.
  • the memory 510 may include a RAM, including dynamic RAM (“DRAM”), synchronous dynamic RAM (“SDRAM”), and/or static RAM (“SRAM”).
  • the memory 510 includes non- volatile computer storage media.
  • the memory 510 may include a hard disk drive, a flash memory, or any other suitable non-volatile computer storage device.
  • the memory 510 includes both volatile and non-volatile computer storage media.
  • the memory 510 stores data relating to accessing a local data network via a mobile data connection.
  • the memory 510 also stores program code and related data, such as an operating system or other controller algorithms operating on the remote unit 105 and one or more software applications.
  • the input device 515 may include any known computer input device including a touch panel, a button, a keyboard, a stylus, a microphone, or the like.
  • the input device 515 may be integrated with the display 520, for example, as a touchscreen or similar touch-sensitive display.
  • the input device 515 includes two or more different devices, such as a keyboard and a touch panel.
  • the input device 515 may include a camera for capturing images or otherwise inputting visual data.
  • the display 520 may include any known electronically controllable display or display device.
  • the display 520 may be designed to output visual, audible, and/or haptic signals.
  • the display 520 includes an electronic display capable of outputting visual data to a user.
  • the display 520 may include, but is not limited to, an LCD display, an LED display, an OLED display, a projector, or similar display device capable of outputting images, text, or the like to a user.
  • the display 520 may include a wearable display such as a smart watch, smart glasses, a heads-up display, or the like.
  • the display 520 may be a component of a smart phone, a personal digital assistant, a television, a table computer, a notebook (laptop) computer, a personal computer, a vehicle dashboard, or the like.
  • the display 520 includes one or more speakers for producing sound.
  • the display 520 may produce an audible alert or notification (e.g. , a beep or chime).
  • the display 520 includes one or more haptic devices for producing vibrations, motion, or other haptic feedback.
  • all or portions of the display 520 may be integrated with the input device 515.
  • the input device 515 and display 520 may form a touchscreen or similar touch-sensitive display.
  • the display 520 may be located near the input device 515.
  • the transceiver 525 communicates with a mobile communication network (e.g., a PLMN) over an access network, such as a 3GPP RAN or a WLAN.
  • the mobile communication network comprises the cellular base units 1 10 and a mobile core network 120 discussed above with reference to Figure 1.
  • the transceiver 525 may include hardware circuitry and/or software code for communicating with the access network.
  • the first transceiver may include one or more transmitters used to provide UL communication signals to the cellular base unit 1 10 and one or more receivers used to receive DL communication signals from the cellular base unit 1 10.
  • the transceiver 525 supports the virtual network interface 530 used when sending uplink packets to the local data network 135.
  • FIG. 5B depicts an apparatus 550 that may be used for accessing a local data network via a mobile data connection.
  • the apparatus 550 includes one embodiment of the UPF 130 in the data path of a first data connection (such as the data connection 221 , first data connection 303, and/or first data connection 420).
  • the UPF 130 may include a processor 555, a memory 560, and a transceiver 575 supporting one or more network interfaces 580.
  • the processor 555 and memory 560 may be substantially similar to the processor 505 and the memory 510, respectively.
  • the UPF 130 also includes an input device 565 and an output device 570, which may be substantially similar to the input device 515 and output device 520, described above.
  • the processor 555 is communicatively coupled to the memory 560, input device 565, output device 570, and transceiver 575.
  • the processor 555 provides a first network interface 580A that supports communication with the UE over the first data connection (e.g., the data connection 221 , first data connection 303, and/or first data connection 420) and a second network interface 580B that supports communication with the SMF 140.
  • the processor 555 determines whether to configure a first data connection (e.g. , the data connection 221) to provide access to a local data network 135 in addition to the remote data network 125.
  • the first data connection provides a remote unit 105 access to a remote data network 125. The determination is based on information received from the SMF 140 via the second network interface 580B.
  • the processor 555 In response to determining to configure the first data connection to provide access to a local data network, the processor 555 activates a third network interface 580C that communicates with a local data network 135. [0116] In response to activating the third network interface 580C, the processor 555 transmits a downlink data packet to the remote unit 105 over the first data connection.
  • the downlink data packet includes an indicator that the first data connection provides access to a local data network.
  • the processor 555 also provides the remote unit 105 with access to one or more services via the local data network 135 using the third network interface.
  • the processor 555 indicates that the first data connection supports access to a local data network 135 by setting a local access availability flag in a header of the downlink data packet. In certain embodiments, the processor 555 inserts the local access availability flag into every X downlink data packets of the first data connection, in response to activating the third network interface.
  • X may be a value selected by a network operator.
  • the processor 555 further sets a charging rate parameter in the header.
  • the charging rate parameter indicates a charging rate applied to data packets sent by the remote unit 105 to the local data network 135.
  • the processor 555 in response to activating the third network interface, sends the charging rate parameter is only in a predetermined number of downlink packets. In another embodiment, in response to determining that the charging rate applied to data packets sent by the remote unit to the local data network has changed, the processor 555 sends the charging rate parameter in a predetermined number of downlink packets.
  • the processor 555 indicates that the first data connection provides access to a local data network 135 by placing a charging rate parameter in a packet header of the downlink data packet.
  • the charging rate parameter indicating that the first data connection provides access to the local data network 135.
  • the processor 555 provides the remote unit 105 with access to one or more services via the local data network 135 by receiving an uplink packet over the first data connection, determining whether the uplink packet includes a local access request flag request, and routing the uplink packet via the third network interface in response to the uplink packet including the local access request flag request.
  • the processor 555 provides the remote unit 105 with access to one or more services via the local data network 135 by receiving an uplink packet over the first data connection and routing the uplink packet via the third network interface in response to the uplink packet including a destination IP address belonging to the address space of the local data network.
  • the transceiver 575 comprises communication hardware for communicating with elements of the mobile communication network, such as a core network 215, SMF 140, additional UPF 130, and a RAN, such as the RAN 210.
  • the transceiver 575 supports the first network interface 580A used to facilitate communication between a remote unit 105 and the remote data network 125.
  • the first network interface 580A may communicate with the RAN using a N3 backhaul interface.
  • the transceiver 575 also supports the second network interface 580B used to communicate with ith-an SMF 140.
  • the transceiver 575 further supports the third network interface 580C used to facilitate communications between the remote unit 105 and the local data network 135.
  • the transceiver 575 also communicates with a packet data network, for example communicating with the remote data network 125 using the first network interface 580A or communicating with the local data network 135 using the third network interface 580C.
  • the first network interface 580A may use a N6 interface for communicating with the remote data network 125
  • the third network interface 580C may also use a N6 interface for communicating with the local data network 135.
  • the UPF 130 supports an N6 interface with a packet data network, the UPF 130 is said to support an anchor functionality.
  • the transceiver 575 is also configured to communicate with one or more additional UPFs 130, for example using the first network interface 580A.
  • the first network interface 580A may use an N9 interface for communicating with a UPF 130.
  • the transceiver 575 may also communicate with a SMF 140, for example using the second network interface 580B.
  • the processor 555 may control the first data connection to provide a remote unit 105 with access to a local data network 135 by activating the third network interface 580C, as described herein.
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method 600 for accessing a local data network via a mobile data connection, according to embodiments of the disclosure.
  • the method 600 is performed by an apparatus, such as the remote unit 105 or UE 205.
  • the method 600 may be performed by a processor executing program code, for example, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a CPU, a GPU, an auxiliary processing unit, a FPGA, or the like.
  • the method 600 may include receiving 605, at a remote unit, a downlink data packet from a first data connection over the mobile communication network.
  • the first data connection providing access to a remote data network.
  • the first data connection may be the data connection 221, first data connection 303, and/or the first data connection 420 discussed above.
  • the method 600 includes determining 610 from the downlink data packet whether the first data connection provides access to a local data network in addition to the remote data network.
  • determining 610 from the downlink data packet whether the first data connection provides access to the local data network in addition to the remote data network includes determining whether a charging rate parameter is present in a packet header of the downlink data packet.
  • the presence of the charging rate parameter indicates that the first data connection provides access to the local data network.
  • determining 610 from the downlink data packet whether the first data connection provides access to the local data network in addition to the remote data network includes examining a local access availability flag in a header of the downlink data packet.
  • the local access availability flag indicating whether the first data connection provides access to the local data network.
  • the header may include a charging rate parameter in the header, the charging rate parameter indicating a charging rate applied to data traffic sent by the apparatus to the local data network via the first data connection.
  • the method 600 may additionally include the remote unit informing an application installed thereon of the charging rate applied to data traffic sent by the apparatus to the local data network.
  • the method 600 also includes accessing 615 one or more services in the local data network in response to determining that the first data connection provides access to the local data network.
  • accessing 615 one or more services in the local data network includes requesting and receiving IP configuration data (e.g. by using the DHCP protocol) and configuring with this data a virtual network interface that provides access to the local data network.
  • uplink packets sent via the virtual network interface are not marked with the local access request flag e.g. when the destination address in the uplink packet is considered enough for routing the packet to the local data network.
  • uplink packets sent via the virtual network interface are marked with the local access request flag e.g. when the destination address in the uplink packet is not enough for routing the packet to the local data network (for example in multicast / broadcast packets).
  • accessing 615 one or more services in the local data network includes discovering a hypertext transport protocol ("HTTP") proxy in the local data network and sending HTTP traffic to the discovered HTTP proxy in the local data network.
  • accessing 615 one or more services in the local data network comprises sending a service discovery request to the local data network.
  • the method 600 may include the remote unit sending the service discovery request comprises sending a DNS query packet or a SSDP packet marked with a local access request flag, wherein the local access request flag requests routing the DNS query or the SSDP packet to the local data network.
  • the method 600 further includes determining whether an uplink packet should reach the local data network. In response to determining that the uplink packet should reach the local data network, the method 600 includes marking the uplink packet with a local access request flag. The method 600 further includes transmitting the uplink packet via the first data connection, wherein the local access request flag requests routing the uplink packet to the local data network. The method 600 ends.
  • FIG. 7 is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method 700 for accessing a local data network via a mobile data connection, according to embodiments of the disclosure.
  • the method 700 is performed by an apparatus, such as the UPF 130 or second UPF 230.
  • the method 700 may be performed by a processor executing program code, for example, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a CPU, a GPU, an auxiliary processing unit, a FPGA, or the like.
  • the method 700 may include establishing 705 a first data connection with a remote unit over a first network interface.
  • the first data connection providing the remote unit access to a remote data network.
  • the method includes communicating 710 with a session management function ("SMF") over a second network interface and determining 715 whether to configure the first data connection to provide access to a local data network in addition to the remote data network, based on information received from the SMF.
  • SMF session management function
  • the method includes activating 720 a third network interface that communicates with a local data network.
  • the method includes transmitting 725 a downlink data packet to the remote unit over the first data connection, the downlink data packet including an indicator that the first data connection provides access to a local data network, in response to activating the third network interface.
  • transmitting 725 the downlink data packet including an indicator that the first data connection provides access to a local data network includes setting a local access availability flag in a header of the downlink data packet.
  • the method 700 further includes inserting the local access availability flag into every X downlink data packets of the first data connection, in response to activating the third network interface.
  • the method 700 also includes setting a charging rate parameter in the header, the charging rate parameter indicating a charging rate applied to data packets sent by the remote unit to the local data network.
  • the charging rate parameter in response to activating the third network interface, is only inserted in a predetermined number of downlink packets.
  • the charging rate parameter in response to determining that the charging rate applied to data packets sent by the remote unit to the local data network has changed, is only inserted in a predetermined number of downlink packets.
  • transmitting 725 the downlink data packet including an indicator that the first data connection provides access to a local data network includes placing a charging rate parameter in a packet header of the downlink data packet.
  • the presence of the charging rate parameter indicating that the first data connection provides access to the local data network.
  • the method includes providing 730 the remote unit with access to one or more services via the local data network using the third network interface.
  • providing 730 the remote unit with access to one or more services in the local data network includes determining whether an uplink packet received over the first data connection includes a local access request flag request and routing the uplink packet via the third network interface in response to the uplink packet including the local access request flag request.
  • the method 700 ends.

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Abstract

L'invention concerne des appareils, des procédés et des systèmes pour accéder à un réseau de données local par l'intermédiaire d'une connexion de données mobile. Un appareil (500) comprend un processeur (505) et un émetteur-récepteur (525) qui communique avec un réseau de communication mobile. Le processeur (505) reçoit (605) un paquet de données de liaison descendante d'une première connexion de données (303) sur le réseau de communication mobile, la première connexion de données (303) fournissant à l'appareil (500) un accès à un réseau de données distant (125). Le processeur (505) détermine (610), à partir du paquet de données de liaison descendante, si la première connexion de données (303) fournit un accès à un réseau de données local (135), en plus du réseau de données distant (125). En réponse à la première connexion de données (303) fournissant un accès au réseau de données local (135), le processeur (505) accède (615) à un ou plusieurs services par l'intermédiaire du réseau de données local (135).
EP17713203.2A 2017-03-20 2017-03-20 Accès à un réseau de données local par l'intermédiaire d'une connexion de données mobile Pending EP3603204A1 (fr)

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US11689990B2 (en) 2023-06-27
CN110313197B (zh) 2022-09-09
US11218949B2 (en) 2022-01-04
CN110313197A (zh) 2019-10-08
US20220132399A1 (en) 2022-04-28
US20230292223A1 (en) 2023-09-14
WO2018171859A1 (fr) 2018-09-27

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